Suction strainer and detergent container for apparatus for cleaning and degreasing metal parts



2 Shets-Sheet 1 M y 1968 P. BUCHEGGER T A SUCTION STRAINER AND DETERGENT CONTAINER FOR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND DEGREASING METAL PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1966 FIG.

FIG. 2

Pius Buchegger Pius J. Buchegger INVENTORS.

Attorney May 28, 1968 P. BUCHEGGER ET AL 3,385,445

SUCTION STRAINER AND DETERGENT CONTAINER FOR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND DEGREASING METAL PARTS Filed Aug. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G.3 FIG. 5

Pius Buchegger Pius J. Buchegger United States Patent 3,385,445 SUCTION STRAINER AND DETERGENT CON- TAINER FOR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND DEGREASING METAL PARTS Pius Buchegger and Pius J. Buchegger,

Rehhofsiedlung, Hallein, Austria Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 574,877 Claims. (Cl. 210-206) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liquid-cleaning device for a circulating liquid metalcleaning and degreasing system which comprises a horizontal cylindrical shell mounted in a support and communicating at one end with a recirculating pipe and adapted to receive a cylindrical filter having a discharge side axially communicating with this pipe, the cylindrical housing being surmounted by a detergent container running parallel to a generatrix of the filter for delivering the circulating liquid thereto while a slidable plate is received in a guide between the pipe and the filter for blocking the discharge end of the latter.

In known apparatus for cleaning and degreasing metal parts, the correct mounting and the connection of the suction strainer involves difficulties because the suction strainer is usually flange-mountable so that it can be replaced and cleaned only with considerable effort.

It is an object of the invention to remove these difficulties. This is accomplished in that the suction strainer has the general form of a cylinder having a perforated shell and is provided at its top with a container for receiving the metal-cleaning and degreasing detergent and is also provided with a connection pipe for discharging the strained detergent solution. In a preferred embodiment, a slide plate has an aperture which corresponds to the connection pipe and this plate is slidable in a corresponding guide provided on the housing of the apparatus. This slide plate can be replaced by a shut-ofi gate when the suction strainer is removed.

The invention relates also to details of the design of the suction strainer and of the associated container.

An embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically shown by way of example on the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is an elevation showing the suction strainer,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the suction strainer,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a side elevation and a top plan view showing the guide for the slide plate and FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevations showing the slide plate and the shut-off gate.

In the embodiment which is shown in the drawings, the suction strainer consists of a cylindrical tube 1 of expanded metal, which is covered by a filter 2 of wire mesh or the like. The tube 1 is connected on one of its longitudinal sides to a container 3 of perforated sheet metal or the like. The inlet opening of said container is larger than its outlet opening connected to the tube 1. On its lefthand end, the tube 1 is closed by a cover plate 5. The tube is stiffened by reinforcing rings 6 at its two ends and at two intermediate points. At these intermediate points, the container 3 and the filter 2 are clamped by straps 14, which are tightened with turnbuckle-type clamps 15.

At its right-hand end, the tube 1 is closed by a flange 7, which is connected to a connection pipe 8. The latter communicates with an aperture 10, which is formed in a slide plate 9. The aperture 10 conforms to the connection pipe "Ice 8 and is aligned with the latter. A bail-shaped handle 11 is welded to the top end of the slide plate 9 and is bent downwardly on the left side, where it is welded to the cover plate 5. This portion of the handle is bent at an angle. The lower end of the handle rests on the bottom of the housing 17.

The slide plate 9 is adapted to be inserted from above into a guide 13, which is provided with a discharge pipe 18 FIG. 1. This discharge pipe is disposed opposite to the connection pipe 8. The guide 13 is secured to the housing 17.

To remove the otherwise stationary suction strainer 1 and the container 3, it is sufficient to pull the handle 11. The suction strainer can then be easily cleaned. During this time, the discharge pipe may be closed by a shut-off gate 16, which is inserted from above into the guide 13 instead of the slide plate 9. When these operations have been carried out in a reverse order to install the suction strainer, the slide plate 9 in the guide 13 will afford a sufliciently tight seal so that there is no need for a flanged connection.

In the operation of the apparatus, which constitutes the filter device of a circulating-liquid degreasing system, the container 3 is filled with solid detergent for producing the metal cleaning solution. It is not necessary to measure the quantity of the detergent because the capacity of the container 3 determines the quantity of detergent With which the container 3 is to be filled. The cleaning solution is contaminated with the dirt that has been washed from the metal parts to be cleaned. This contaminated cleaning solution is sucked by a pump in through the stationary container 3 and the filter 2 into the interior of the suction strainer. The dirt is deposited on the outside of the filter 2 and falls from said filter onto the bottom of the container, where the dirt is collected. The strained liquid is recycled through the connection pipe 8 into the apparatus and can thus be used repeatedly. After a series of cleaning operations, the apparatus is shut down, the dirt collected on the bottom of the container is removed and the washing liquid is renewed.

Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, particularly as regards the design of the shell of the suction strainer and the design of the solution tank, which may be designed as desired. The handle could also be diiferent.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for straining a flowing liquid comprising housing means provided with a recirculating pipe and a guide'adjacent said recirculating pipe; a strainer assembly removably mounted in said housing means and including a cylindrical horizontal tubular body closed at one end and open axially at the other end thereof, an outlet pipe at said other end communicating between the interior of said body and said recirculating pipe, a strainer in said body for delivering strained liquid to said outlet pipe and a detergent container mounted on top of said body and communicating with the interior thereof to in troduce detergent into the liquid passed through said container into said body; and a slide plate mounted in said guide between said pipes and shiftable between a position in which said plate blocks said outlet pipe at an end thereof remote from said body and a position permitting liquid flow between said pipes.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said strainer comprises a tube of expanded metal and a filter layer covering said tube.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said filter layer consists of a wire mesh.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said References Cited tube is provided with peripheral reinforcing rings, said UNITED STATES PATENTS assembly further comprising tightenable straps extending around said reinforcing rings and securing said container 1,678,622 7/1928 210460 X and said filter layer onto said tube. 5 2668624 2/1954 Wahm 21O" 460 X 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said 2677/166 5/1954 Lowe 210489 guide is adapted to receive a shut-Oif gate to close said 3,282,073 11/1966 Zehrbach 210-193 X recirculating pipe toward the interior of said housing REUBEN FRIEDMAN Primary Examiner means when said strainer assembly has been removed from aid housing rneang 10 J. L. ASSI'SIGIZZ EXGHZi/ZLI. 

